Pyrotechnics

[dustin]

Not everyday one gets to break the cherry on a new forum, though third posting, its still third place. I thought I'd christen it with some pyrotechnics materials.  This first batch is a bit unique and little known, these are USAAF life raft distress signal kits representing 1936-1945 before fully transitioning to hand held smoke and M75 signals. They are the same concept with the first generation including the M2 pistol or projector and six red M11 signals, 1936-1945 or until it was removed from service being replaced by the later type projectors. In 1942, they transitioned for the use of the M8 (AN-M8) but reduced the M11 count to five due to the larger frame of the pistol. In 1943, they transitioned to the M9 hand projector switching back to six M11s which should had been the standard until 1946. The other kits lingered in service throughout the war. The projector and signals would be secured in an open faced carrier, it would in turn be placed in a out container and sealed for waterproofing. A must have assembly for the completion of a USAAF multi-person life raft.

 

 

The final application would be a tape to make that waterproof seal. laying on top is an unused example.

[dustin]

The next batch are bags. For signals, there was the A-1 thru A-8. The A-1 to A-4 were for the line of parachute flares M10-M11 and  M14-M16.  The M12 was the Bomb, Photoflash and the M13 was the Flare, Airport. Represented here are the bags A-1 (nine signals) and A-4 (four signals). Starting with the adoption of the M28-M36 and M37-M45, the designations were extended to include the A-5 thru A-8 containers, represented here are the A-5 and A-8. These are the 37mm shotgun shell type cartridges or rimless types (M28-M36). Each pistol had its designated bag, A-1 for the M2 and A-2 for AN-M8. The A-1 was designed to attach to the back of the bags A-1 thru A-4 by the studs provided. The A-2 merely strapped to the bags A-6 thru A-8, not for the A-5. 

 

 

This is just a collage of representatives for each adopted series of signals and loaded in in the projector.

 

 

[917601]

Wow, rarely seen. 

[iron bender]

That is an impressive collection. Good work!

[dustin]

Why thanks for the comments. It is a fun venue. It was a lot of patience waiting for the USAAF distress signal bags for each configuration and dually the appropriate M11 signals to go with them. Now the family is complete. The other pyro signals and containers are a side hustle with the intention of completing the series of containers, eventually. The signals themselves would be a long haul as there is somewhere in the count of around fifty in total for all the series together. 

 

This is the Bureau of Aeronautics equivalent for their multi-person life rafts. They adopted a combination smoke and star. The projector and shells would be contained in a wax coated carton.

 

 

 

[ScottN]

I just ran across this being a Forum newbie...AMAZING collection! Just one question, were the M9 projectors only AAF raft kit items? I had read somewhere that they was some use by infantry. I imagine what ever could be obtained was used. (My dad had an M8 while serving as a combat engineer in the Philippines but had shot all the flares and tossed the pistol on VJ day.) Great photos...and great books!!!  Cheers